On the Largest Dojo from the World, the Brazilian judokas Seek Inspiration for Nanjing 2014
The acclimatization of Time Brasil is an unforgettable experience for the young judokas who had the chance to train at Kodokan.
This place impresses even the most experienced athletes and for those who love practicing judo being there is like a dream. After two days of practice in the largest dojo of the world, the Olympic Center of Japan, the young Brazilian judokas Layana Colman and José Basile seek inspiration in the Japanese tradition in order to reach the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games ready to shine.
The judo center of Japan's Olympic Committee has an area of 1.804m² and six official wrestling rooms. The mat is coated with a material that prevents injuries from falls during training. In addition, among other technologies, cameras scattered throughout the rooms allow the analysis of images of the athletes’ movements. The roots of the sport are not forgotten. The creator of judo, Jigoro Kano, is revered in a shrine in a central position of the premises.
"As soon as I opened the door, the first feeling I had was that of a dream coming true: I have finally got to Japan, the judo’s birthplace. I really admire these extraordinary premises. I also remembered all my trainings and everything I want to win. All came like a flash, at once." José Basile, the 18 year-old athlete from Santos, stated.
As an ancient Japanese culture, the judo shapes the values and transforms the lives of the Brazilian representatives at the Youth Olympic Games. The example of the Japanese judokas, who at the end of each workout sweep the dojo, will last forever in their memories. "The experience I am getting here, as a judoka as well as a citizen, cannot be explained. We had a warm welcome and for us, as judokas, this was great. The world best athletes come from here and I think this Japanese experience will be remembered forever ", said Basile, who is being coached by the Olympic medalists Rogério Sampaio and Carlos Honorato.
After a few days of training in Tokyo, Layane Colman, the 17 year-old athlete from Mato Grosso do Sul, feels at home already. "I was surprised by the Japanese girls’ openness. People always say that judo is universal and here I could see why is like that. I felt confortable from the beginning, as if I was training in my gym. Everyone here is equal," remarked Layana, who believes she will have a good performance in the Youth Olympic Games after training in Japan. "The training is strong, tiring, and we will get in China well prepared," added Layana, bronze medalist in the latest World Cadet Championships.
The coach of the Brazilian team in this competition is the coach of the women’s cadet team, Danusa Shira. She highlights the benefits of this training period in the country where judo was born. "This week will be very important for Basile’s and Layane’s preparation because we are experiencing the world’s most technical judo. We find here what is most important for preparing them. This surrounding environment, the history of judo, this climate of collaboration, all this will be remembered for the rest of their lives. It is a great lesson. It's a dream that is coming true, so I'm sure this experience will be very valuable in their lives and careers, "said Danusa who took last Saturday, August 9th, the two athletes to train at the Kodokan School founded by Jigoro Kano which is the birthplace of judo.
Next Wednesday, while the athletes from the Senior National Team board for the Senior World Championship in Chelyabinsk, Russia, the young athletes will be traveling to China to dispute the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.The Brazilian judo seek another medal at the Olympic Youth Games. In the first edition in Singapore in 2010, Flavia Gomes was silver awarded.
